Shelby buys CAV GT40 for 80th Birthday !!

[Ham Todd]

Ah yes.....you're probably right there Ernie. The mighty greenback is probably just under the surface of this deal!!

[Mark IV]

...what it is that SAI "does" to the Kirkham body to make it a "Shelby"-perhaps they make the now symetrical body asymetric? Add some dents, dimples and a whole lotta filler like the trolls that supplied the bodies to AC did? (and by the way, AC subcontracted most of the bodies, they built the early cars and the special stuff but the majority of the bodies were sublet)

Inquiring minds what to know.....


Rick


Wait, that implies that I have a mind and everybody knows that's not true!

[Jamo]

Hmmmmm...

I'm thinking this might turn into a long thread...certainly a mind-provoking one.

[KeithBrown]

Could it be that CAV is going to assemble the roller from SAI's kit, hencie they are "manufacturing" a true CSX under license from SAI? Pure speculation on my part, I admit.

Regards,

Keith

[4RE KLR]

So is this a case of:

If you can't beat em join em,

OR

Monkey see, Monkey Do?

[ToyCollector]

Checked the site, still the same, so not an April Fools joke. My my, interesting turn of events.

[Russ Dickey]

Originally posted by mr bruce


Face the facts, a CSX prefix in your VIN number has value. Given the choice of cars priced at $38,500. prudent buyers will buy the car with the CSX. If the Old Grouch prices his cars at the SPF number, he will crush them.

I couldn't agree more. I am currently in the market, and for me, this would change everything. Being able to own a completed CSX car for around $50k? Where do I sign up?

[Excaliber]

Heck yeah! At that price, I'm in!

Ernie

[Jeff Frigo]

I wouldn't buy a car from that a$$hole for $10,000. Well, actually I would if I knew it was costing him $20,000 to make them.

Truly a Real POS (the man, not the car).

[Brent Fenimnore]

Sorry for the delay in getting on this one. Carroll Shelby has been in the process of reducing the cost of the CSX4000 for the past six years and has recently been working on international methods of doing so in an attempt to compete while maintaining the original configuratrion of the 427 S/C Cobra. CAV is not the only component supplier he is working with but let me clearly state that all of them are working from SAI designs and to SAI standards and will by no means deminish the value of the preveously built CSX4000 Cobras. As for the comments pertaining to AC roadsters we will soon have a completely seperate discussion on what AC contributed to the 289 and 427 Cobras and what was contributed by Shelby American, Inc. I will let you be the judge on who developed the COBRA after you have all the facts.

Thank you,

Brent Fenimore
Shelby American, Inc.

[PatBuckley]

Brent-

Reducing costs from the point of manufacture or sale?

[Excaliber]

Pat,,,don't they go hand in hand?

Copied here from another post by myself recently:
,,so I asked my son (he's 13 so obviously an "expert" on just about everything) his opinon:

"If Shelby endorses a builder to build a car and use a CSX number, but doesn't actually DO anything to the car himself, is it really a Shelby Cobra/Coupe car?"

His answer: "Of course it is, because Shelby wouldn't do that unless he thought the builder was really good and the car would be a good car".

,,,,I think he's onto something,,,,,,

Ernie

[PatBuckley]

Ernie - they don't.

I can believe that they are doing all they can to reduce what it costs them to make the car but I have not seen any price reductions - ever.

[Jeff Frigo]

Ernie:

No

[Excaliber]

They DO go hand in hand, simple business logic.

I choose to believe the end product will therefore be available at a reduced or HOLDING steady price in SPITE of inflation. Or the end product will be made more superior than the current design at the same cost.

You choose to believe the manufacturer will only enrich himself and possibly lower the quality of the end product.

If the manufactuer is planning to be around for a long future he would HAVE to stabilize price and/or increase quality/quantity. I believe SAI is here to stay. Not taking sides one way or the other, just applying simple business logic, unclouded by personal opinion. Emotional attachment makes for bad investments.

Ernie

[Jeff Frigo]

Ernie:

Now that's an oximoron if I ever heard of one. CS is 80, won't be around for ever. Standard business practices say they will go hand in hand, but since when has SAI used standard practices?

[Excaliber]

What will happen when CS passes on IS an intriguing question. I THINK he will leave a rich legacy behind and his work will continue for many years to come. But I don't have a crystal ball.

Without CS, how will it go? Good question!

Ernie

[Dominik]

just visiting,

let's see if I get notification of responses. I was at CAV two days ago.
I only saw GT40s, which means nothing...



dom, cape town

[mr bruce]

Cost of material and labor, coupled with the 25%(?) subsidy from the South African government will bring these "new" cobras rite in the price range of competitors. As has been asked, will this cost savings be passed onto the customer?Just imagine what could happen to the "donor" style kits if these cost saving measures were put to use in that market segment. Shelby American, could soon be the only logical choice for cobra buyers.And just think, no lawsuits needed, they could have done this from the start.

[STG]

Evan,

C'mon. The CAV website refers to manufacturing 427 S/Cs, not just selling them. The language is simple and straightforward. There are not enough words for even you to spin!

Maybe you just can't stomach the thought of a REAL genuine CSX consecutive serial numbered car at $40,000! Think it'll affect the value of your CSX4000? Nah, you have one of the ORIGINAL REAL genuine CSX consecutive serial numbered cars. That's worth twice as much, at least!

Gotta love it. SPF-style Shelby rollers. Guess ol' Shel won't be arguing against those off shore cars anymore.

At least you have company. Talk to anybody that bought a Porsche 911 just prior to the 993 version (1993?).

Porsche implemented Japanese production and management techniques that lowered the price of a new 911 by $10,000. That did wonders for used car values. Wait. That's not a good example. The Shelby CAV connection will probably lower the price by $20,000 - $30,000.